Zhang Jigang's award-winning work to be staged in HK＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

Renowned Mainland choreographer and National Class One Director Zhang Jigang will bring his award-winning work "Forbidden Fruit under the Great Wall" to Hong Kong.

This grand-scale dance drama is about a tragic love story in early 20th century Shanxi. It has won many prizes including one of the 10 National Fine Stage Arts Projects of 2005-06, the Outstanding Drama Award at the Five “One” Project, and an award at the 12th Wenhua Awards. Zhang, a dramaturge and choreographer, is the Deputy Director of the Propaganda Department of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army General Political Department. He is a visiting professor at the Shanxi Vocational Art College and Permanent Director of the Huajin Dance Drama Ensemble. He was the Deputy Director of the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

The story of the dance drama takes place in the social circle of affluent Shanxi merchants. The master of the wealthy Yin family passes away, leaving his ailing widow and a son. A servant covets the Yin family’s fortune and plots for his illegitimate daughter Suan Zao (or “wild jujube”), a maidservant, to marry the young master. The beautiful and kind-hearted Suan Zao and the bright, hardworking young shopkeeper are lovers. They make a secret pledge with a handful of wild jujubes that they will marry one day. However, their love comes to a tragic end when her father poisons the berries without their knowledge.

Members of Huajin Dance Drama Ensemble of the Shanxi Vocational Art College will perform the dance drama in Hong Kong. The college was the first tertiary institute to offer arts vocational training in China. The Huajin Dance Drama Ensemble was formed under its auspices in 2004. “Forbidden Fruit under the Great Wall” was the ensemble’s inaugural production, and has had more than 500 performances since its premiere. The ensemble has also toured Japan, Korea, Australia, Russia and Bahrain for cultural exchange and the promotion of Chinese traditional culture.

Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the dance drama will be staged at 8pm on May 22 and 23 (Friday and Saturday) at the Auditorium, Tuen Mun Town Hall. Tickets priced at $280, $200 and $120 are now available at all URBTIX outlets. Half-price concessions will be granted to senior citizens aged 60 or over, people with disabilities, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients. (Limited tickets for students and CSSA recipients are available on a first-come, first-served basis.) For package purchase discount, please refer to the programme leaflet for details.

For programme enquiries, call 2268 7323; for ticketing enquiries and reservations, call 2734 9009. Internet bookings are available at www.urbtix.hk. For credit card telephone bookings, call 2111 5999. Visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/cp for more information on the programme.